07/29/2012

In this episode, I interview Dr. Barry Kipperman, a board certified internist and founder of VetCare - a veterinary emergency and specialty hospital located in Dublin, California. Dr. Kipperman wrote an article for DVM magazine explaining why he believes veterinarians have a role in helping prepare their clients for the potential costs should their pet ever face a serious accident or illness.

We discuss:

The desparity between what pet owners expect the costs of diagnosing and treating their seriously injured or ill pet will be and the actual costs involved in delivering the quality of care they expect and want for their pets. This is especially true when their pet needs emergency care or the expertise of a specialist.

Average costs of various services that pet owners pay when visiting his emergency/specialty hospital.

Options that pet owners have when it comes to paying for treating their seriously ill pets.

Some ways that veterinarians and their staffs might broach the subject of the costs of their pet's healthcare with their clients.

Why he is a proponent of pet insurance for pet owners and why relying on only a savings account to pay the bill for a seriously injured or ill pet isn't a realistic option for most pet owners especially during a recession.

The usual response of pet owners who have pet insurance to his recommendations for the treatment and care of their pets.

The changes he'd like to see from a specialist's perspective in the pet insurance industry today.

Why he believes that referral to emergency/specialty 24 hours hospitals will continue to increase in the future and the costs of providing care to pets will also continue to rise.

Why he feels so strongly that the affordability of veterinary care is important not only for pet owners, but is a premier issue facing the veterinary profession today.